Liquid crystal display panel and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A liquid crystal cell article includes a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between a first polymeric substrate and a second polymeric substrate. The first polymeric substrate includes a plurality of first parallel conductive traces extending in a first direction and disposed between the layer of liquid crystal material and the first substrate, and a first release liner disposed on the first polymeric substrate. The second polymeric substrate includes a plurality of second parallel conductive traces extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and disposed between the layer of liquid crystal material and the second substrate. The first polymeric substrate further includes a removable portion that is separable from the first polymeric substrate with the first release liner to expose a portion of the layer of liquid crystal material or second parallel conductive traces.

1. A liquid crystal cell article comprising:
 a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between a first polymeric substrate and a second polymeric substrate; 
 the first polymeric substrate comprising a plurality of first parallel conductive traces extending in a first direction and disposed between the layer of liquid crystal material and the first substrate, and a first release liner disposed on the first polymeric substrate; and 
 the second polymeric substrate comprising a plurality of second parallel conductive traces extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and disposed between the layer of liquid crystal material and the second substrate; 
 
       wherein the first polymeric substrate further comprises one or more first structures defining a removable portion that is separable from the first polymeric substrate with the first release liner to expose a portion of the layer of liquid crystal material or a portion of the second parallel conductive traces. 
     
     
       2. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the second polymeric substrate further comprises a second release liner and one or more second structures defining a second removable portion that is separable from the second polymeric substrate with the second release liner to expose a portion of the layer of liquid crystal material or a portion of the first parallel conductive traces. 
     
     
       3. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 2 , wherein the removable portion is shaped as a first rectangle, and the second removable portion is shaped as a second rectangle. 
     
     
       4. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 3 , wherein the first rectangle is in registration with a plurality of ends of the plurality of second parallel conductive traces, and the second rectangle is in registration with a plurality of ends of the plurality of first parallel conductive traces. 
     
     
       5. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 3 , wherein the first rectangle extends along a first in-plane axis, and the second rectangle extends along a second in-plane axis different from the first in-plane axis. 
     
     
       6. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the layer of liquid crystal material comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal material. 
     
     
       7. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first parallel conductive traces and second parallel conductive traces are transparent. 
     
     
       8. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first structures comprise a slit. 
     
     
       9. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the second parallel conductive traces are divided into a plurality of second parallel conductive trace portions, each second parallel conductive trace portion defined by first trace ends and second trace ends, and wherein the removable portion is in registration with a plurality of adjacent ones of the first trace ends or the second trace ends. 
     
     
       10. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first structures comprise a line of weakness. 
     
     
       11. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first structures comprise a perforation. 
     
     
       12. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal cell article is in the form of a continuous web of discrete liquid crystal cell articles, the removable portion of the first polymeric substrate being one of a first plurality of removable portions formed in the first polymeric substrate, each of the discrete liquid crystal cell articles being associated with at least one of the first plurality of removable portions. 
     
     
       13. A liquid crystal cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the layer of liquid crystal material comprises a layer of cured liquid crystal material. 
     
     
       14. A liquid crystal cell article, comprising:
 a first polymeric substrate having a plurality of first parallel conductive traces formed thereon; 
 a second polymeric substrate having a plurality of second parallel conductive traces formed thereon; 
 a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second polymeric substrates; and 
 a first release liner disposed on a side of the first polymeric substrate opposite the layer of liquid crystal material, and opposite the plurality of first parallel conductive traces; 
 wherein one or more first structures are formed in the first polymeric substrate to define a first removable portion that is separable from the first polymeric substrate with the first release liner, the first removable portion being shaped to allow access to a portion of the layer of liquid crystal material or a portion of the second parallel conductive traces. 
 
     
     
       15. The article of  claim 14 , wherein the article is in the form of a continuous web, wherein the first parallel conductive traces are arranged into discrete subgroups of traces having first and second ends, and wherein the second parallel conductive traces are also arranged into discrete subgroups of traces having first and second ends, the subgroups of the first parallel conductive traces being registered with the subgroups of the second parallel conductive traces to define distinct liquid crystal articles disposed in a row along a length of the continuous web. 
     
     
       16. The article of  claim 15 , wherein the first removable portion is one of a first plurality of removable portions formed in the first polymeric substrate, each of the distinct liquid crystal articles having at least one of the first plurality of removable portions. 
     
     
       17. The liquid crystal cell article of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a second release liner disposed on a side of the second polymeric substrate opposite the layer of liquid crystal material, and opposite the plurality of second parallel conductive traces; 
 wherein one or more second structures are formed in the second polymeric substrate to define a second removable portion that is separable from the second polymeric substrate with the second release liner, the second removable portion being shaped to allow access to a portion of the layer of liquid crystal material or a portion of the first parallel conductive traces. 
 
     
     
       18. The article of  claim 17 , wherein the article is in the form of a continuous web, wherein the first parallel conductive traces are arranged into discrete subgroups of traces having first and second ends, and wherein the second parallel conductive traces are also arranged into discrete subgroups of traces having first and second ends, the subgroups of the first parallel conductive traces being registered with the subgroups of the second parallel conductive traces to define distinct liquid crystal articles disposed in a row along a length of the continuous web. 
     
     
       19. The article of  claim 18 , wherein the first removable portion is one of a first plurality of removable portions formed in the first polymeric substrate, wherein the second removable portion is one of a second plurality of removable portions formed in the second polymeric substrate, each of the distinct liquid crystal articles having at least one of the first plurality of removable portions and at least one of the second plurality of removable portions.